Public Health Intelligence in Practice: A Global Perspective
Public health intelligence (PHI) describes the process of moving from data through knowledge synthesis to action with the specific aim of early detection for effective response. In this interactive session, we'll hear about the experience of a variety of countries that have an active public health intelligence function, including Member States looking to implement EIOS in the coming year. Understanding how future EIOS stakeholders implement PHI and event-based surveillance activities will provide the starting point for the EIOS community as a whole to identify challenges and opportunities for integrating EIOS into existing systems and filling vital gaps in capacity.
Harnessing data science to improve public health intelligence
Wei Xin Khong, Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health Singapore
Public health intelligence (PHI) is the process of monitoring global health threats by gathering and monitoring information on public health events via open source, governmental, and other domains of intelligence. A quantitative analysis of events captured between January and March 2019 (N=6,571) was performed to provide insights on PHI in Singapore. Data revealed the need to improve the efficiency of horizon scanning, and the importance of human input to generate usable intelligence for making informed downstream decisions. PHI was effective in providing early warning for global health threats, but there is room to improve its efficiency.
Epidemic Intelligence: Looking for the Needle in the Haystack
Mandy Walsh, Senior Scientist, Public Health England
The presentation will portray Public Health England's epidemic intelligence activities including their rationale, approach and processes for signal detection and verification, interpretation, risk assessment and communication, and will address challenges, requirements and lessons learned to date.
Morocco: Rapid detection and early warning during the influenza season 2018-2019
Rabia Lahlaouti, Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health Morocco
During the influenza season 2018-2019, Morocco experienced a public health emergency linked to the death of a pregnant woman following an A/H1N1 confirmed SARI. The high media coverage and rumours surrounding this case created panic in the population and prompted the set-up of a new early warning system across the country. This presentation will give an overview of this process and how it led to an enhancement of ILI and SARI surveillance and higher responsiveness, as well as to exhaustive surveillance of all cases with severe acute respiratory infections hospitalized in intensive care units, which was implemented in all public and private hospitals.
Event-based surveillance practices in Uganda
Issa Makumbi, Public Health Emergency Operations Center Director, Ministry of Health Uganda
This presentation focuses on Uganda's experiences with event-based surveillance to date. It includes a discussion of the current status of EBS, including tools used for unstructured community reports, online scanning of media and social media, and hotline reporting. Current challenges, gaps, and future needs are presented to conclude.
Egypt: Experiences in Implementing Event Based Surveillance
Fatma Mohamed, Event-Based Surveillance Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Population Egypt
The presentation will go through a general view of the National Surveillance System focusing on Event Based Surveillance. It will present the pillars of EBS, phases of implementation, and development of the electronic reporting platform and finally, present future plans.